We work for shippers as well as shipowners, charterers, shipyards, P&I Clubs, Hull & Machinery Underwriters, and various other marine insurers. We have offices in major cities around the world — including New York, Washington D.C., Charlotte, Atlanta, Miami, London, Brussels, and Bangkok — which gives us broad geographic reach. 

The scope of our practice includes advising clients involved in maritime transactions and representing clients in maritime arbitration and litigation. On the transactional side, our attorneys have experience negotiating contracts governed by the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, drafting vessel sale agreements, charter parties, terminal agreements, towage contracts, bills of lading, and other maritime contracts. We also advise clients regarding to regulatory compliance (Customs, INS, OPA 90) and insurance coverage issues. 

On the litigation front, our attorneys have significant experience representing clients in maritime related arbitration, mediation, and state and federal court litigation. Our litigation approach focuses on early resolution of the case — either by dispositive motion or favorable settlement — to avoid costly and protracted proceedings. While we have been successful in achieving early resolution of cases, our track record demonstrates success in all phases of litigation.

Hunton & Williams has handled a wide variety of maritime matters, including:

Hazardous Cargo & Cogsa Litigation

• Boykin v. China Steel Corp., 73 F.3d 539 (4th Cir. 1996) (ship explosion caused by hazardous cargo)
• Boykin v. Bergesen dy A/S, 835 F. Supp. 274, 1994 A.M.C. 715 (E.D. Va. 1993) (ship explosion caused by hazardous cargo)
• Ente Nazionale Per L'Energia Electtrica v. Baliwag Navigation, Inc., 774 F.2d 648, 655 (4th Cir. 1985) (hazardous cargo)
• Federated Department Stores, Inc. v. M/V Marchallenger, No. 98-5450 (D.N.J. 1999) (enforced bill of lading forum selection clause in Cogsa case)

Shipbuilding & Repair Contracts

• Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co. v. General Dynamics Corp., 960 F.2d 386 (4th Cir. 1992) (U.S. government shipbuilding contract)
• Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co. v. S.S. Independence, 872 F. Supp. 262, 1995 A.M.C. 1644 (E.D. Va. 1994) (maritime lien for ship repair)

Personal Injury & Wrongful Death

• Lewis v. C. J. Langenfelder & Son, Jr., Inc., 2004 A.M.C. 2256 (E.D.Va. 2004) (summary judgment for tug owner in wrongful death case)
• Boyd v. Cinmar of Gloucester, Inc., 919 F. Supp. 208, 1996 A.M.C. 1805 (E.D. Va. 1996) (partial summary judgment for vessel owner on Jones Act and maintenance and cure claims)
• Boykin v. Bergesen dy A/S, 1994 A.M.C. 2232 (E.D. Va. 1994) (tort and contract indemnity awarded after trial of Dohsa case)
• Complaint of F/V Captain Wool, 914 F. Supp. 1300 (E.D. Va. 1995) (court strongly criticized plaintiff's physician shopping in Jones Act case)
• Carolina Clipper, Inc. v. Axe, 902 F. Supp. 680, 1996 A.M.C. 461 (E.D. Va. 1995) (Jones Act and maintenance and cure claims)
• Cassidy v. Cottrell Contracting Corp., No. 2:95cv420 (E.D. Va. 1995) (summary judgment for vessel owner in collision death case)
• Dishong v. TMF, Inc., No. L93-1283 (Norfolk Cir. Ct. 1996) (jury verdict for seaman limited to $4,000)
• Goose Creek Trawlers Lim. Proceedings, 972 F. Supp. 946, 1997 A.M.C. 1546 (E.D.N.C. 1997) (partial summary judgment in wrongful death case)
• Harwood v. Partredereit, 944 F.2d 1187, 1992 A.M.C. 375 (4th Cir. 1991), cert.denied, 112 S. Ct. 1265 (1992) (court held that harbor pilot not a seaman)
• Hernandez v. Vertie Mae Inc., 187 F.3d 432 (4th Cir. 1999) (summary judgment for vessel owner in Jones Act case)
• Hewett v. O'Neal's Pride, Inc., No. 4:99cv79 (E.D. Va. 2000) (jury verdict for vessel owner in Jones Act case)
• Lewis v. C. J. Langenfelder, No. CL02-299 (Virginia Cir. Ct. 2002) (summary judgment for vessel owner on Jones Act claim)
• Mason v. O'Neal's Pride, Inc., No. L96-6971 (York County Cir. Ct. 1999) (bench verdict for vessel owner in Jones Act case)
• McDowell v. Bay Gulf Trading Co., Ltd., No. L97-2933 (Norfolk Cir. Ct. 1999) (vessel owner's motion to strike granted at trial of Jones Act case)
• Smith v. Alice Amanda, Inc., 39 Fed. R. Serv. 3d 484 (E.D. Va. 1997) (summary judgment for vessel owner in Jones Act case)
• Spencer v. Williams Enterprises, Inc., VLW 097-8-438 (Va. Cir. 1997) (summary judgment for vessel owner in Jones Act case)
• Yost v. American Overseas Marine Corp., 798 F. Supp. 313, 1992 A.M.C. 2679 (E.D. Va. 1992) (partial summary judgment for vessel owner on Jones Act claim)

Tugs, Towage, & Collisions

• Commonwealth of Virginia v. Bay Towing Corp., 1998 A.M.C. 2176, 44 Va. Cir. 466 (1998) (judgment for tug company in bridge allision case awarded at trial)
• Complaint of Cottrell Contracting Corp., 1996 U.S. Dist. Lexis 17384 (E.D. Va. 1996) (summary judgment for dredging company in bridge allision case)
• Complaint of Robbins Maritime, Inc., 906 F. Supp. 309, 1995 A.M.C. 2191 (E.D. Va. 1995) (vessel owner awarded implied contractual indemnity)
• Cargill v. The Tug Randy D, 1991 A.M.C. 101 (E.D. Va. 1990) (judgment in favor of tower at trial)
• Lady Doris, Inc. v. F/V Tony One, No. 4:96cv104 (E.D. Va. 1997) (won allision case at trial)

Successful Appeals

• Lewis v. C. J. Langenfelder & Son, Jr., Inc., 266 Va. 513, 587 S.E.2d 697 (2003)
• Hernandez v. Vertie Mae, Inc., 187 F.3d 432 (4th Cir. 1999)
• Commercial Union Insurance Co. v. Marinex Construction Co., No. 94-1563 (4th Cir., 1995)
• Harwood v. Partredereit AF 15.5.81, 955 F.2d 1187 (4th Cir. 1991), cert. denied, 112 S.Ct. 1265 (1992)

Marine Insurance

• Commercial Union Ins. Co. v. Charleston Marine Leasing Co., 843 F. Supp. 124, 1994 A.M.C. 1419 (E.D. Va. 1994), aff'd, No. 94-1563 (4th Cir. Apr. 17, 1995) (summary judgment for insurer affirmed)
• Hale's Point Marine v.Indian Harbor Ins. Co., Arbitration (2001) (arbitration finding no coverage under Hull & Machinery Policy)

Miscellaneous Procedural Issues

• Lewis v. C. J. Langenfelder & Son, Jr., Inc., 2004 A.M.C. 2250 (E.D.Va. 2003) (Voluntary/involuntary removal rule)
• Bosdorf v. Beach, 79 F. Supp. 2d 1337, 2000 A.M.C. 519 (S.D. Fla. 1999) (Rooker-Feldman doctrine and Colorado River abstention in a DOHSA case)
• Boykin v. Bergesen dy A/S, 1993 A.M.C. 2646 (E.D. Va. 1993) (exclusion of expert surveyor testimony)
• In re Boating Accident Near Cozumel, Mexico, on May 24, 1996, J.P.M.L. Docket No. 1294 (Oct. 5, 1999) (defeated motion for consolidation under the multi-district litigation statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1407)
• Martin v. Cottrell Contracting Corp., 2000 A.M.C. 2982 (E.D.N.C. 2000) ("federal courts do not recognize a federal physician-patient privilege")
• Rye v. U.S. Steel Mining Co., Inc., 856 F. Supp. 274, 1994 A.M.C. 1363 (E.D. Va. 1994) (res judicata and collateral estoppel)

Articles & Publications

• Mistaken LHWCA Compensation Payments: Subrogation Lien or Third Party Credit?, 30 J. Mar. L. & Com. 19 (Jan. 1999)
• Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute, Fourth Circuit Review, 1998
• ABA Section of Antitrust Law, Antitrust Law Developments (4th ed. 1997) (dealing with ocean shipping)
• Jury Trials in Admiralty, 29 Moore's Federal Practice § 704.08 (3d ed. 1997)
• Rule 14(c): Special Rules for Admiralty and Maritime Claims, 29 Moore's Federal Practice § 704.06[1] to [2][a] (3d ed. 1997)
• Immigration and Customs — Past 11th September Reporting and Regulation Compliance for Vessels Trading in U.S., GARD News (2002) 

(Copies of any of the cases or articles listed above are available upon request.)